Preventive care is key to long-term health and wellness. As young children, preventive care is a given. We’re scheduled for checkups at regular intervals, and most parents dutifully take their children to make sure all is well. As adults, this type of preventive care often falls by the wayside. We get too busy, it’s too expensive, or it’s just too much trouble.
Unfortunately, the mere fact that we’re aging means that preventive care and checkups are more important than ever. Luckily, when life gets in the way, there are many ways to simply check for ourselves. And since hearing and vision are some of the first things to suffer with age, why not start with self-checks in these two important areas?
Doctors at The Joint Chiropractic want you to enjoy life fully, and one way to do that is to get out in front of minor problems before they become big ones.
Vision changes, including vision loss, general eye problems, and various eye diseases, can be a normal part of the aging process. Every part of the body changes with age, and the eyes are no exception. As we get older, our eyes may experience some of the following changes.
Most vision changes can be corrected with glasses or contact lenses. Some might require a procedure or medication. And still others may require a change to your lifestyle and habits. It’s important that it’s caught early. Although regular trips to the eye doctor can certainly help, regularly checking your vision at home is a good idea.
Most people probably don’t check their eyes at home. We just don’t think about it. But checking your eyes at home can help you monitor your overall eye health and vision. How do you check your eyes at home? It’s an easy process with these simple vision tests.
At-home eye tests are not going to be as specific or thorough as seeing a professional. Don’t skip your appointments. Let an eye doctor check for any problems, treat any conditions, and keep you on the path to good vision and optimal eye health.
Good eye health and regular monitoring is important, but that’s not where our self-checks should end. We should also stay on top of ear health. Just like the eyes, our ears can be affected by various problems. Aging plays its part, but these ear problems may show up at any stage of life.
Hearing problems can be subtle. It’s rare that we lose hearing all at once. Instead, we may notice small problems that then build up over time. And because of the subtlety, self-checks have become more important than ever.
When we’re young, hearing tests are often a part of the school experience. Remember wearing the big headphones and listening for the beep? As adults, there aren’t really any hearing tests unless we specifically ask for them or notice a problem. But that doesn’t mean we can’t check for ourselves. If you want to prevent hearing loss, you can self-check your hearing with just a few basic tests.
We shouldn’t take the health of our eyes and ears for granted. We rely on these senses every single day. Often, it’s not until the ability to see and hear has been taken away that we truly take it seriously. But why wait when you don’t have to? Check your own health at home. Watch for changes, even if they’re minor, and then take any concerns you have straight to your doctor. Take care of your eyes so you can watch your children grow up and your ears so you can hear the laughter around the dinner table. Your eyes and ears bring magic to your life. Protect the magic and your health by starting these at-home self-checks today.
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